Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-11-18
a droadfol thing to see, but still he

q drcadfol thing to see, but still h
said: IL am Innocent" and she wa
taken away, and he marched. wit
guards about him and his hands bound
toward the awful spot where he was t
meet his fate, and the clergyman wills
pered:
Confess. the truth. my son. and G,
to Heaven washed from falschood."
He answered.:
81 have spoken the truth can sa,
nothing more"
And so they brought him to the gal.
tows-the old gallows of old Gwelt-
town. brown with time. and not toe
staunch or stout, where many thieI
and murderer had hung before. And
all the country were there 10 see-fol
then it was considered wholesome
sight Tor the populace-and reserved
seats wero not sold to few curious
for spicy horrors rs they are TODAY
even in our good city of New York.
Men and women. and even children,
stood up at the gallows and gazed ut
the figure mounting it.
Peter Morgan saw them and grew
hot with shame. TO die such death.
before so many, was worse than merely
leaving the world which had been
bright to h IN in his youth and strength.
and where his old mother would starye.
deserted by him.
Tears came into his eycs-for the
first time he trembled, and the clergy
man, seeing it, exhorted him once more
to tell where the diamonds were and
confess his guilt.
But Peter Morgan turned from him
and toward the faces lifted up expect.
ant OF his death struggles. From time
immemorial a last dying speech has
been permitted to those doomed to
execution. And knowing tbs, he
spoke:
Friends: stand here a dying man
and die innocent. God hears me
and his Son. Let il be warning to all.
The test of the Bible aud key is Il cheat.
1T was tried and found me guilty. /
never touched the diamonds. | know no
more of them than the youngest baby
here. ! die murdered.
Then he gave himself up to the exc
cutioner aud the clergymen-and tho
black cap was drawn over his eyes and
prayer was said, the signal given and
the drop fell
Then occurred what seemed n mis-.
chance The gallows of Gwelt-town
was old and much decayed. The vic
tim was a heavy man. As he swung
off something gave way Instead of
being properly hanged Peter Morgan
fell heavily TO the ground. stunned and
and bleeding, with bits of rotten wood,
and ropes, and loosened ma Is scattered
over him. The fragments Of a BIRDS
nest-two young birds, above which
the mother bird screamed and fluttered.
and Miss BlacSthwa te' 5 diamonds!
AT the top of the old gallows. as all
Gwelt-town knew, had been for years
a magpies nest, and motherhood had
often picked crumbs from the sill
Of Miss Blackthwaite's window. On
that morning. when she lay asleep with
her window open. the bird afflicted. /
ike all its race with what is delicatelv .
called kleptomania, had helped herself .
10 the diamonds. The magpe was the
.hief, not poor Peter Morgan, whom
hey picked up alive and carried home
n triumph.
Some good people were a little dis
appointed, but there was no hanging
n Gwelt-town that day. The major
md his sister, of course, made what
eparation lay in their power and
'eter Morgan started in life IN the wav
hat best pleased him-and his mother
new poverty no longer.
In course of time they grew rich, and
oday the Morgans OF Gwelt-town ride
their carriage, and upon its panels
on may see their coat of arms.
A magpie, with a necklace in its
eak. and the motto:
Hope, even under the gallows."